At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead security operations and risk management for our SaaS platform, ensuring high-quality service delivery.
- Company: Join Temenos, a global leader in banking technology, empowering clients in over 150 countries.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible work options, generous leave policies, and support for personal development.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of banking innovation, making a real impact on security and operational excellence.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in IT operations with expertise in security standards and audit management required.
- Other info: Collaborate with diverse teams and drive continuous improvement in a dynamic environment.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
Temenos powers a world of banking that creates opportunities for billions of people and businesses everywhere. We have been doing this for over 30 years through the pioneering spirit of our Temenosians who are passionate about making banking better, together. We serve over 3000 clients from the largest to challengers and community banks in 150+ countries. We collaborate with clients to build new banking services and state-of-the-art customer experiences on our open banking platform, helping them operate more sustainably. At Temenos, we have an open-minded and inclusive culture, where everyone has the power to create their own destiny and make a positive contribution to the world of banking and society.
We are seeking a Client facing and strategically minded SVP, Head of Security Ops, Risk & Controls to lead the structured oversight, operational assurance, and continuous improvement of our SaaS platform. This role will sit at the heart of our operational governance model, working with both new and existing clients, owning key pillars such as security operations, release governance, quality assurance, disaster recovery, audit coordination, SLA conformance, and the definition of technical and operational security standards across the SaaS business. Reporting to the CTO, SaaS, this role will partner closely with Group-wide functions including GRC, Legal, Finance, QA, and Engineering to ensure secure, resilient, and high-quality SaaS delivery.
OPPORTUNITIES
- Operational Risk & Security Oversight
- Own the governance of operational security and threat readiness in partnership with the CISO.
- Define, maintain, and enforce security standards for the SaaS organisation, including technical standards, secure configuration baselines, and operational controls.
- Ensure these standards are consistently implemented across product, platform, DevOps, and client delivery teams.
- Lead the development of risk-informed operational controls aligned to regulatory and enterprise risk frameworks.
- Release Management & Change Governance
- Govern the release and change management lifecycle to ensure structured risk reviews, approvals, traceability, and audit readiness.
- Partner with platform and engineering teams to embed control requirements into DevOps workflows and continuous delivery pipelines.
- Support critical delivery milestones such as UTP2 and client go-lives through structured oversight.
- Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
- Own the definition, implementation, and periodic testing of disaster recovery and business continuity strategies.
- Ensure operational readiness across all critical systems and maintain alignment with client and regulatory expectations.
- Audit Leadership & Client Assurance
- Lead the coordination and response for internal, external, and client audits.
- Partner with GRC, Legal, and Finance to ensure evidence collection, tracking of findings, and timely remediation.
- Serve as a single point of operational assurance for client-facing control queries.
- Quality Assurance & Platform Testing Strategy
- Own the QA governance model and testing strategy across the SaaS platform, aligned to product and engineering objectives.
- Drive quality outcomes tied to delivery milestones such as UTP2, client onboarding, and infrastructure transformation.
- Implement continuous improvement processes informed by testing outcomes and operational metrics.
- SLA Management & Root Cause Analysis
- Monitor service performance against defined SLAs, ensuring proactive tracking and reporting to senior stakeholders.
- Lead structured Root Cause Analysis (RCA) processes following service incidents, and drive implementation of remediation actions and preventative controls.
- Control Environment Ownership
- Continually review and strengthen the internal control environment across SaaS operations and client services.
- Identify control gaps, own remediation plans, and ensure alignment with industry standards (e.g. ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS).
- Ensure visibility and adherence to controls across all support functions.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Reporting
- Collaborate across business, legal, compliance, and technology teams to align on priorities and unify the operational governance approach.
- Deliver structured, actionable reporting to senior leadership on security posture, control performance, audit status, platform quality, SLA outcomes, and risk mitigation.
SKILLS
- Proven leadership experience in IT operations, service governance, or operational risk within a regulated or SaaS business environment.
- Deep understanding of security operations, release governance, disaster recovery, QA, and audit management.
- Demonstrated success in defining and implementing security and technical standards in a SaaS or cloud-first environment.
- Experience managing internal, external, and client audits across technology and operational domains.
- Working knowledge of frameworks such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, and relevant financial services regulations.
- Strong track record of SLA monitoring, incident response, and continuous service improvement.
- Excellent cross-functional collaboration and external stakeholder management skills.
- Executive-level reporting, communication, and presentation capabilities.
- Highly structured, outcome-driven mindset with a focus on resilience, quality, and risk reduction.
VALUES
- Care about delivering secure, resilient, and high-quality SaaS solutions for our clients.
- Commit to upholding the highest standards of operational governance and security.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams—engineering, legal, compliance, GRC, finance, and client delivery.
- Challenge yourself and others to continuously improve our control environment, question assumptions, and push for higher levels of resilience, quality, and operational maturity.
SOME OF OUR BENEFITS include:
- Maternity leave: Transition back with 3 days per week in the first month and 4 days per week in the second month.
- Civil Partnership: 1 week of paid leave if you're getting married. This covers marriages and civil partnerships, including same sex/civil partnership.
- Family care: 4 weeks of paid family care leave.
- Recharge days: 4 days per year to use when you need to physically or mentally recharge.
- Study leave: 2 weeks of paid leave each year for study or personal development.
Please make sure to read our Recruitment Privacy Policy.
SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls employer: Temenos Headquarters SA
Contact Detail:
Temenos Headquarters SA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and best practices in security operations and risk management. This will not only help you understand the role better but also allow you to engage in meaningful conversations during interviews.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the SaaS and security sectors. Attend industry events or webinars where you can meet potential colleagues or mentors who can provide insights into the company culture and expectations at Temenos.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare to discuss your experience with operational governance and audit management in detail. Be ready to share specific examples of how you've successfully implemented security standards and improved operational resilience in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 4
Research Temenos' current projects and initiatives related to security and operational excellence. Being knowledgeable about their recent developments will demonstrate your genuine interest in the company and the role you're applying for.
We think you need these skills to ace SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in IT operations, service governance, and operational risk. Use specific examples that demonstrate your leadership skills and understanding of security operations.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: In your cover letter, express your passion for the role and how your background aligns with Temenos' values. Mention your experience with SaaS platforms and your approach to operational governance and security.
Highlight Relevant Skills: Clearly outline your expertise in frameworks like ISO 27001, SOC 2, and PCI-DSS. Emphasise your ability to manage audits and your experience in disaster recovery and business continuity planning.
Showcase Collaboration Experience: Provide examples of how you've successfully collaborated with cross-functional teams in previous roles. Highlight your communication skills and ability to deliver structured reporting to senior leadership.
How to prepare for a job interview at Temenos Headquarters SA
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before the interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the responsibilities and expectations for the SVP, Head of Security Operations, Risk and Controls role. Familiarise yourself with key areas such as operational governance, security standards, and disaster recovery strategies.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
Highlight your proven leadership experience in IT operations and service governance. Be prepared to discuss specific examples where you've successfully implemented security and technical standards in a SaaS environment, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Collaboration Questions
Given the collaborative nature of the role, be ready to discuss how you've worked with various teams such as engineering, legal, and compliance. Share examples that demonstrate your ability to unify operational governance and deliver actionable reporting to senior leadership.
✨Demonstrate a Continuous Improvement Mindset
Emphasise your commitment to continuous improvement in operational controls and quality assurance. Discuss any processes you've implemented that led to enhanced resilience and risk reduction, as this aligns with the values of the company.